This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Tembisa Hospital has discharged its last two Covid-19 patients, but is now preparing for fourth wave News24 reports that Tembisa Hospital in Johannesburg has no Covid-19 patients for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The hospital discharged its last two Covid-19 patients over the weekend. Hospital chief executive Dr Ashley Mthunzi said staff were elated about the development. "Tembisa is situated in one of the fastest-growing areas in Gauteng. For Tembisa to experience this, it has to say something about how we are moving as a country and as a province. Without any doubt, the vaccine helped," he noted. The hospital admitted its first Covid-19 patient on 25 March last year. To accommodate Covid-19 patients, it repurposed two orthopaedic wards and a surgery ward. Reflecting on the hospital's Covid-19 experience, Mthunzi said the third wave of infections had hit the hospital the hardest. He added that the hospital was on high alert to see what impact municipal election rallies would have on case numbers in the next few weeks. But for now, the hospital will concentrate on backlogs after resources were diverted to Covid-19. In preparation for a fourth wave, the hospital is preparing to build a 300-bed ward for Covid-19 patients. "We are replacing tents with a prefab structure, and that will restore dignity for our patients. We are on guard to make sure there is availability of medication and ventilators. We are ready for the fourth wave," Mthunzi indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Two security officers gunned down and killed on Wednesday during Durban business robbery News24 reports that two security officers were shot and killed during a business robbery in Springfield, Durban, on Wednesday. Paramedics who responded to the scene on Londonderry Crescent found two men, aged between 40 and 50, with gunshot wounds. Emer-G-Med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen indicated: "One man was found to have sustained fatal wounds and there was nothing paramedics could do to assist him; he was declared dead on arrival." The second man was found in a critical condition. "Advanced life support paramedics worked fervently to save the man, however he sadly succumbed to his injuries and died on the scene," Van Reenen reported. A shootout is believed to have taken place. Police sources said there were five armed suspects. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kaveel Singh at News24. Lees ook, Veiligheidsbeamptes sterf tydens KZN-rooftog, by Maroela Media
New Anglo CEO Duncan Wanblad must deliver on ‘really aggressive agenda’, says Mark Cutifani BL Premium writes that Anglo American’s CEO-designate will have to deliver on a “really aggressive agenda” to ensure the company can sustain its strong share price performance and overtake larger rivals Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. So says outgoing CEO Mark Cutifani, who will step down in April 2022 and be replaced by Duncan Wanblad, an Anglo insider with three decades of experience, including heading up its platinum and base metals operations, and most recently its strategy division. Wanblad’s appointment has been widely welcomed, and had been expected for some time, after Cutifani signalled that he planned to end his nine years at the helm once Anglo commissioned its giant new Quellaveco copper mine in Peru, as it is due to do in April. Anglo chair Stuart Chambers said on Wednesday the company had conducted a rigorous global search for a successor and Wanblad was the “standout” candidate. Wanblad, who is a Wits University-educated mining engineer, is the first South African to lead the group since 2007. During Cutifani’s tenure, productivity has doubled and total shareholder return has averaged about 17%. Anglo plans to grow by 30% out to 2030, with a series of expansion projects under way globally. The group is also still targeting zero on its safety record. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hilary Joffe at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Anglo American appoints first South African as CEO since 2000s, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Geologist gives emotional testimony at Lily Mine inquest News24 reports that an emotional geologist battled back tears on Wednesday as he narrated the tragic incident that left three Lily Mine workers trapped underground. During an inspection in loco, Michael Begg described the incident to Magistrate Annemarie van der Merwe, who is chairing the inquest into the disaster. Pretty Nkambule, Solomon Nyirenda and Yvonne Mnisi are presumed dead after a shipping container they were working in collapsed into a sinkhole on 5 February 2016. Begg said the collapse of the container, which was being used as a lamp room, happened within 12 seconds. He battled to hold back the tears as he narrated the 2016 incident. "In terms of the collapses, the idea was to go underground to pull out the material. The more we pulled the material, the ground would continue to fail. The second or third day later, we had a large fall which left us worried. We then made a decision not to carry on (with the rescue). We started monitoring all cracks that were starting to form," Begg indicated. Inside and outside the shaft, security guards armed with machine-guns and pistols are manning the place. This follows revelations by the gold mine’s lawyer Andre Bezuidenhout that illegal mining activities were active at the mine before and after the tragedy. The inquest hearing into the tragic incident continues in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 Lily Mine inquest hears that father of victim believes that his daughter is still alive inside buried container News24 reports that the father of one of the three Lily Mine employees trapped underground believes his daughter is still alive. Elmon Mnisi told the inquest into the tragedy being held at the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court that his daughter, Yvonne Mnisi, was waiting to be rescued. Yvonne, Pretty Nkambule and Solomon Nyirenda were trapped underground on 5 February 2016. "I don't accept that my daughter has died inside the shipping container at Lily Mine. I haven't seen where she disappeared. I have not buried her. I haven't seen her body. Therefore, I can't say she is dead," Mnisi said. He was testifying on Wednesday at the hearing into what caused the disappearance of the three miners on 5 February 2016. Mnisi went on to state: "In my culture, there is saying that people disappear after being taken away by a mermaid and later return alive. I want the mine to remove the rubble over their container and retrieve them from the container. I have also reprimanded my family from crying for my daughter because the creature that has taken her away will kill her." The three mineworkers are believed to be trapped about 60m underground and presumed dead. The hearing continues on Thursday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscriber access only) AECI Mining Explosives provides samples of explosives to K9 detection team to help curb illicit, criminal use Mining Weekly reports that to help curb illegal use of explosives, AECI Mining Explosives has partnered with explosive detection patrol company Vapor Wake K9 South Africa (VWK9SA) by providing it with samples of explosives to assist in training its dogs. Criminal activities that involve the use of illicit explosives in South Africa – especially cash-in-transit (CIT) heists and the bombing of automated teller machines – have been on the rise in recent years. In this regard, AECI Mining Explosives notes that at least one CIT heist a day was recorded between January and mid-February this year. AECI Mining Explosives explained that criminal activities involving explosives endangered public safety on a large scale and could severely impact on the economic and political stability of any country. To address the situation, it noted that the rapid detection of explosives from the vapour phase would be one way to enhance the protection of society against crime involving explosives. The amounts of explosives required for training detection dogs is relatively small, with only a few grams of each material being sufficient. VWK9SA provides trained dogs specialised in the detection of explosives and narcotics, as well as tactically trained dogs for security purposes. AECI Mining Explosives marketing manager Michelle le Roux said VWK9SA’s dogs were “heroes with a nose”, and that AECI Mining Explosives commended them for sniffing out illicit explosives. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
Local manufacture of SANDF’s new uniforms will create jobs GroundUp reports that according to the Textile Federation (TexFed), the decision to manufacture new uniforms for the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) entirely in SA will create much needed jobs in the textile and clothing industry. The new uniforms will be made locally in line with government regulations designed to bolster the clothing industry. Initially, the special fabric needed for the uniforms was imported, but now local manufacturers are being taught how to make it. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which has been leading the new design of the uniforms, says it is talking to local textile manufacturers to supply the material for the uniforms. Brian Brink, executive director at Texfed, said the project would help grow the local textile and clothing industry and create “desperately needed employment opportunities”. Simon Eppel, researcher at the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu), said this development would ensure that local job opportunities were created and preserved. This was especially the case with state institutions, which had a responsibility to meet minimum thresholds for local content when procuring large orders, such as the SANDF uniforms. Problems with uniforms and boots were first raised by SANDF soldiers more than three years ago in 2018 after a deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Trials for the new model uniforms started in June this year and the full provision is scheduled from December. New boots for soldiers have been supplied since the beginning of July. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Liezl Human at GroundUp
Another top South African CEO resigns to move to Australia BusinessTech reports that senior vice president and chief executive officer of Massmart Wholesale, Doug Jones, has announced his departure from the group to take up a job opportunity in Sydney, Australia. Massmart said in a trading update on Tuesday that Jones will leave his role at the end of December 2021. The leadership of Massmart Wholesale will be handed over to Llewellyn Walters. At the same time, the group said that the Game and Builders chief executives, who previously reported to Walters in his retail role, will report directly to Massmart chief executive, Mitch Slape. Jones’ departure is the second significant executive departure in as many months, with the Clicks Group announcing that its chief executive and executive director Vikesh Ramsunder would also leave at the end of December to take up a chief executive role in Australia. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessTech. Lees ook, Nog ʼn SA-hoë bedank vir lewe oorsee, by Maroela Media
Saga between Old Mutual and fired CEO Peter Moyo drags on in Gauteng High Court BL Premium reports that almost 16 months since Old Mutual appointed Iain Williamson CEO and sought to end an acrimonious legal battle with his predecessor Peter Moyo, the saga refuses to go away. As the company accused the former boss of trying to “delay finality” on a case he has already lost, Peter Moyo was back in court applying to have directors, including chair Trevor Manuel, declared delinquents for alleged negligence and wilful misconduct while performing their duties. In legal papers filed with the Gauteng High Court, Moyo, who was dismissed in 2019, says he wants 13 current and former non-executive directors of the insurance and investment group declared delinquents in terms of the companies act and jailed for as long as six months. The application, which was heard on Wednesday, also wants 16 members of Old Mutual’s board found guilty of contempt for their refusal to allow him to resume duties in accordance with a court ruling after his 2019 dismissal. Moyo was suspended and dismissed over alleged conflicts of interest related to investment company NMT Capital. Though Moyo contested his dismissal, with Judge Brian Mashile ruling in July 2019 that it was unlawful and that he should be reinstated, Old Mutual refused to allow him access to its offices. The highly publicised spat eventually resulted in a court victory for Old Mutual, which successfully appealed against Mashile’s decision. That left Old Mutual free to find a new CEO, with former COO Iain Williamson appointed in July 2020. Moyo’s lawyers allege that this was in “flagrant, wilful and mala fide [bad faith] breach of the court order” by Mashile. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Garth Theunissen at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Mpofu wants Old Mutual directors jailed for blocking ex-CEO Peter Moyo's reinstatement, at Fin24
Mpumalanga domestic worker arrested for fraud for allegedly taking photos of employer's personal documents News24 reports that a domestic worker has been arrested on a fraud charge in Mpumalanga after she allegedly took photos of her employer's important documents, ostensibly to use for criminal purposes. "The complainant reported that she got information that her 26-year-old employee has photos of her documents [ID, bank card and an actual photo] on her (the suspect’s) cellphone. According to the complainant, she did not give permission to the employee to have copies of such documents," police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala indicated. "Her passport details, banking information and daily routine, among others, were already given away," Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe added. Shongwe said according to the employer, she received a tip-off from someone who was adamant the suspect had already given her information to someone who later used it for criminal purposes. It was then revealed she had compromising information about the woman and her family. The domestic worker was arrested on Tuesday, but has yet to appear in court. Shongwe advised: “Thorough background checks should be made of people we hire in our houses, whether they are local or foreign nationals. Where possible, people should use employment agencies to source helpers.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24
It was out of spite, says pupil who falsely accused Joburg school physiotherapist of sexual misconduct News24 reports that a physiotherapist at a school for children with disabilities in Johannesburg has been cleared of allegations of sexual misconduct after a pupil at the school admitted to having lied. Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) found the woman, who works at the Hope School, not guilty after the 17-year-old alleged victim's about-turn during a hearing. According to the ELRC, the pupil had, during the hearings, said he made the allegations against the woman "out of spite". The woman was served with a precautionary transfer in November 2019, following the allegations. She was accused of having a sexual relationship with the boy in March 2019. She was also accused of inviting the boy to her house where he alleged that they played video games, kissed, hugged and touched each other's hands, legs and hair. He also told one of his teachers that he was in a relationship with the school physiotherapist and that they had had sex. However, the physiotherapist pleaded not guilty, saying charges levelled against her were false. She also said she was "shocked" that the word of the teenager was taken so seriously and that his lies had had such an impact on her life and career. The arbitration found the physiotherapist not guilty and ordered that she be allowed to return to work. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jeanette Chabalala at News24 (subscriber access only)
Zweli Mkhize vehemently distances himself from murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran BusinessLive reports that former health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has come out guns blazing after his name emerged in the bail hearing of six men accused of murdering Gauteng health official Babita Deokaran. Deokaran, who had blown the whistle to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on corruption linked to Covid-19 health equipment procurements, was gunned down outside her Winchester Park home south of Johannesburg in August. Deokaran’s alleged killers — Phakamani Hadebe, Zita Hadebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbele, Siphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswa Dladla — appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for the start of their bail hearing. Phakamani Hadebe told the court that he had been tortured by police into confessing that Mkhize had ordered the murder. In a statement on Wednesday, Mkhize said he was shocked that his “name had been dragged into the case of the men arrested in connection with the murder”. He said he wanted to assure Deokaran’s family that he had nothing to do with the callous crime, “nor the alleged procurement irregularities which are believed to have driven it”. Mkhize has instructed his lawyers to write to the Independent Police Independent Directorate (Ipid) “to investigate the circumstances surrounding the extraction and acceptance into evidence of the reported ‘confession’ whose value could only have been to cause him political embarrassment”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Graeme Hosken at BusinessLive. Read too, Babita Deokaran: Zweli Mkhize 'shocked, saddened' to learn his name was dragged into 'callous crime', at News24. En ook, Mkhize glo valslik by fluitjieblaser se moord betrek, by Maroela Media
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